Fan invasion, odd ball interruption mar Kasımpaşa vs Beşiktaş clash

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

DHA Photo

Kasımpaşa rallied to beat Beşiktaş 2-1 in an eventful Spor Toto Super League match between the two Istanbul teams on  Dec. 15.

The win means Kasımpaşa now stands firm on second spot with 30 points, eight behind runaway leader Fenerbahçe. Galatasaray, who was held to a 1-1 draw at Gençlerbirliği earlier Dec. 15, is third with 27 points and Beşiktaş slipped to fourth with 26 points.  

Two second half goals helped Kasımpaşa beat the Black Eagles, but the game is likely to be remembered with a couple of incidents other than the goals.

In the 81st minute, a fan invaded the pitch and tried to attack Beşiktaş midfielder Manuel Fernandes. First taken down by Kasımpaşa players after managing to kick Fernandes, the invader, while on the ground, was then hit by Beşiktaş's Hugo Almeida and Ramon Motta. Almeida and Motta were sent off by the referee.  

Beşiktaş started the game fast, and took the lead only on the third minute, thanks to Almeida. The Portuguese ace had the chance to double Beşiktaş's lead in the 30th minute, but his shot was blocked by Kasımpaşa's Ryan Donk, who held another ball thrown to the pitch, and threw it to hamper Almeida's effort. The Dutch player changed the course of the play with his illegal interruption, but the referee only showed him the yellow card and refused to award Beşiktaş a penalty.  

The second half saw Kasımpaşa fight back and score two goals. Halil Çolak scored right after the return from the interval and Argentinian Ezequiel Scarione netted the ball in the 71st minute.

Beşiktaş's efforts to equalize the game did not come to fruition and the 81st minute saw just another fracas that could cause both teams to be slammed with penalties.  Motta and Almeida are almost sure to be given penalties, while Kasımpaşa could face a stadium closure ban due to the fan invasion at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium.

Beşiktaş has had its faire share of stadium bans, having copped a ban that lasted four games, only able to play behind closed doors due to crowd troubles during its Galatasaray derby.  

Ironically, Beşiktaş is playing most of its home games at Kasımpaşa's stadium this season due to its İnönü Stadium renovation plan.